A 1938, Unique WWII RAF Air-Sea Rescue Launch with Extraordinary Provenance

A rare opportunity to acquire a historically significant and beautifully restored motor boat with one of the most detailed and well-documented service records of any wartime vessel of her kind.

Dandy C, built in 1938 by R.J. Perkins of Whitstable, is a one-of-a-kind fast motor boat, constructed by eye in thick Burmese teak on English oak frames. Commissioned privately and raced off Ramsgate before WWII, she was requisitioned by the RAF in 1940 and served with distinction as Air-Sea Rescue Boat B024 during the Battle of Britain and beyond.

From her base at Herne Bay, Dandy C played a frontline role under 11 Group Fighter Command, tasked with mine spotting, balloon towing, salvage operations, and urgent call-outs to rescue downed airmen. Her wartime service is unusually well recorded — her handwritten logbook (still surviving) details her operations, inventory, and stories, including confirmed rescues of Allied aircrew and encounters with enemy pilots. She is one of the few known surviving vessels to have operated in this capacity under both Naval and RAF command, joined by legendary local boatmen to navigate the treacherous North Kent coast.

After the war, she returned to Whitstable, later restored with sensitivity and skill — first at Faversham and more recently at Peter Freebody & Co. in Hurley. Between 2014 and 2015, she was brought back to bare wood and given nine coats of varnish. Master boatbuilder Richard Way replaced or corrected non-original fittings, added a new mahogany rudder, and reinstalled 1930s-pattern cast stanchions from Davey & Co. Her cockpit was reinforced, mast and fittings restored, and her open-plan cabin layout was returned to a historically sympathetic V-berth configuration. Most recently, she has received fresh varnish to keep her in great condition.

Unlike many restored historic vessels, Dandy C is being offered as a blank canvas inside — structurally sound, cosmetically superb, and ready to be tailored to the specific needs of her next custodian. Whether fitted out as a classic day boat, gentleman’s launch, or heritage cruiser, her clean interior provides scope for a highly personal refit, and this flexibility is reflected in the competitive price.

Opportunities to purchase vessels with such richly preserved and verifiable wartime histories are extremely rare. Dandy C is more than a classic boat — she is a piece of living history, with unmatched provenance, quality timber construction, and the potential to be both a treasured private vessel and a showpiece at heritage events.

 Viewing by appointment.
Serious historical enthusiasts and classic boat collectors encouraged.